Volunteer Highlights

Nine enthusiastic, hardy volunteers braved the heat on June 26 to participate in the Native Wildflowers Planting Day. They planted perennial wildflowers behind the children’s garden and next to the parking lot at the main office. This Planting Day successfully launched Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s Together Green initiative. Together Green is a unique partnership between the National Audubon Society and Toyota to promote citizen involvement in conservation. The next Together Green event will take place in September during National Public Lands Day. Check the September Bird Call for specific dates and time.
Over thirty hard working Pickering Creek volunteers helped make our Tour Toast & Taste fundraising event on June 12th a great success! From finding generous folks in the community to volunteer to host dinners throughout the year, to securing sponsors, to touring guests through our host, Peter Stifel's home, to ferrying guests from the parking area to the event, to picking up chairs at the end of the night. We could never have done it without a great Event Committee and dedicated volunteer corps!
The volunteer potluck picnic on Wednesday June 16 was a great success. Twenty-five people enjoyed good food and fine company. They also got the scoop on upcoming Together Green volunteer events at Pickering Creek.
Two families participated in animal care training conducted by Kelsey Frey on Monday June 21. These parents and their young children will be taking care of Pickering’s education program reptiles throughout the summer months. Both families are using the volunteer time as a great way to help Pickering and bond with their kids while engaging them nature-based activities. Their enthusiasm is ample proof that you can never start to early to help kids develop their own connection to nature.

Pickering and Easton Rotary Club volunteers spent the morning of June 26 getting the Gilbert Byron House ready for the third annual Gilbert Byron Day on July 10. Siding in two rooms is almost complete!
A special thanks goes out to Bill Reybold and Bill Griffin who have completed building changing stalls for our ecocampers to use this summer. They look great!

Coming Up in July

Painting Crew Volunteers
A crew is being organized to give the office a face-lift this month! John Bayliss, coordinator for this project, will be meeting with interested volunteers on Tuesday, July 13 at 9am at the office. Painting experience is welcomed but not required. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator if you are interested and plan on attending the July 13 meeting.

Canoeing volunteers needed!
Kelsey Frey, our EcoCamp coordinator, is seeking canoeing volunteers for EcoCamp to assist taking 2-4th graders canoeing on the following Thursdays: July 15, July 29, August 12, and August 18 or Friday, August 19. You will be in the back seat of a canoe with one-two campers in the bow and middle for a short canoe ride. Times are still to be determined, but they will be between 10 am and 2 pm. A background check is not required but appreciated (they cost $57). Please contact Kelsey at kfrey@audubon.org to sign-up or seek more information. Training will be provided. No experience necessary. Looking for 1-3 volunteers per week.

‘Green Team’ Volunteer Days
Volunteers are needed on a regular basis to assist with a variety of stewardship activities ranging from watering and mulching newly planted areas to bit of trail clearing and site maintenance. Are you willing to help out? Join the Volunteer Coordinator on Thursdays in July from 10am- noon starting on July 15. The group will meet at the Welcome Center. No prior sign up is necessary for current volunteers. Just show up on days you can make it.